Ash tray



, June91942. l G. scHARLEs ETAL 2,236,040

ASHTRAY Filed Jan. 20, 1940 'INVENTRS ATO Patented June 9, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ASH TRAY Gus Scharles and Harry J. Storms, NewYork, N. Y.

9 Claims.

port in which danger of a lighted cigarette or lighted cigarette buttfalling onto the table, table cloth, or like part supporting the device,is dependably guarded against. Another object is to provide a device ofthe above-mentioned character which will be inexpensive to manufacture,durable in construction, and of reliable action in use. Another objectis to provide an ash receiver and cigarette holder which will readilylend itself to wide adaptability to meet various conditions of practicaluse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned character capable of embodiment in such a way that,particularly when the device is not in use, it may be folded orassembled into neat compact form, though readily rearranged forpractical use when desired. Another object is to provide a device of thejust stated character in which its individual parts may be of simple andinexpensive construction and capable of ready and convenient assembly ormanual rearrangement as desired. Another object is to provide an ashtray or receptacle with a movable part or parts whereby the device maybe arranged in completely enclosed relation, thus to avoid unsightlinessof its contents, or may be arranged in opened relation for the receptionof ashes and the like and for properly positioning the retaining meansfor lighted cigarettes.

Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentionedcharacter capable of being made inexpensively out of various materials.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be in- Figure 2 is a perspective viewwith certain parts broken away of the device in open or operatingrelationship;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively sectional views as seen along theline 3 3, 4 4 and 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another form of device shown in closedrelationship, certain parts being broken away, and

Figure 7 is a perspective View, with certain parts broken away, of thedevice of Figure 6 shown in opened and operating relation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring iirst to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, we prefer to embodythe device to provide two portions, one portion indicated generally bythe reference character lil, providing or forming a receptacle forashes, or the like, and another portion generally indicated by thereference character II, providing a means for controlling a lightedcigarette, as is later described in greater detail; preferably theportions I0 and II comprise separate or individual parts, respectively,and in such case are related to each other for relative movementtherebetween.

The portion I0 may be given any suitable shape or conformation and asbetter appears in Figure 2 it may, for example, be shaped to be incross-section generally rectangular. It therefore preferably has abottom wall I2, opposed side walls I3, I4, and end wall I5, and opposedto the latter is an end wall I6 which preferably is part of the portionII later described. These parts may be dimensioned to give an interiorashreceiving space of the desired volume.

The portion II, preferably constructed to embody in it end wall I6, asabove noted, preferably also has embodied in it what, when the parts arein the position shown in, Figure l, is a top or closure wall I1, andv inthe illustrative embodiment the wall parts I6 and I'I form a right angleto each other and within that angle, and preferably integrally formedwith the Wall parts I6 and Il and within the angle encompassed therebywe provide a structure, illustratively somewhat in the form of apedestal I8 of a thickness on the order of that of a cigarette; inheight, at its left-hand end, as seen in Figure 2, the pedestal part I8is about the same height as the endwall I6, and in length at its base itextends from the end wall IB almost to the righthand end of the top wallII. It is otherwise shaped to provide a substantially horizontal troughI9 which, as is better shown in Figure 2, also cuts through the end wallI6 at its left-hand end, while at its right-hand end the trough I9 has adownwardly and outwardly sloping extension trough 2l] whose right-handor lower end terminates preferably at or adjacent the plane of one faceof the wall part I1.

Where the device is made up of two separate parts, like the portions IBand II, we preferably construct the two portions to permit ready changein their relative relationships, say from the closed relationship ofFigure l to the opened or operating relationship of Figure 2, or viceversa; in the form of Figures 1 and 2 this maybe achieved as bypivotally connecting the two portions, say by a pivot pin or pins ZI,the axis of which passes through the end wall part It, preferably midwayof its vertical dimension, and the two side walls I3 an-d I 4. Thus, theportion I I may be swung about the axis of the pivotal connection 2| tobring the end wall I6 and top wall I'I into the closing positionshown'in Figure 1 or to bring the portion II into the position shown inFigure 2 where the end wall I6 remains in position to coact with thewalls I2, I3, I4, I5 to form an ash receiver while the wall II extendslaterally from the latter to expose the pedestal I8 with the angularlyrelated troughs I9 and 2o upwardly for use in conning, for example, alighted cigarette. In this relationship the portion I I projects orextends laterally from the ash re-ceiver portion Ill and it may or maynot contact with or rest upon the surface, such as a table t-op, whichsupports the receiver portion I0. The parts are preferably soproportioned or hingedly connected together that the outer Yorright-hand under 'edge of the part Il, as Viewed in Figure 2, contactsthe table top or other supporting surface.

When so disposed, a lighted cigarette may be safely set down, as bylaying it into the upper trough portion I9 with the lighted endoverhanging the interior of the receiver portion I0, and thoughneglected or forgotten the device thereafter controlsl the -cigarette sothat it will not L find its way to the table top or other supportingsurface. Both trough portions I9 and 2l] are preferably concaved, asappears better from Figures 3 and 4, giving them a radius of curvaturesubstantially the same as that of the cigarette which, in Figures 3 and4, is indicated by the reference character C. As the lighted end of thecigarette burns away, and if it is of such initial length that asubstantial portion overhangs the right-hand end of the trough I9, thecreation of a condition of unstable equilibrium effects a tilting of thecigarette in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, about theright-hand end of the trough I9 as a fulcrum, thus swinging the mouthend of the cigarette into the downwardly sloping trough whose upper sideedges, as better appears from Figure 4, dependably restrain or controlthe cigarette against falling or rolling out of the trough. When suchtilting of the cigarette C takes place and depending upon its length,the cigarette may also slide down the inclined trough 2!) at whose lowerend we preferably provide a suitable stop preferably in the form of anabutment shaped to provide a circular face or surface Z2 (Figures 2 and5) of a diameter on the order of the diameter of the cigarette. The face22 is preferably at right angles to the axis of the sloping trough 20and the downwardly sliding cigarette is brought to rest by its own endface, generally circular, engaging the face 22 which, being, in thepreferred form, at right angles to the axis of the cigarette, also actsto resist any tendency of any momentum or reaction of the movingcigarette to cause it to partake of a subsequent tilt about its own endface as an axis. Preferably, the face 22 of the abutment has extendingabout so much of it as does not coincide with the cross-section of thetrough 2t a ridge 23 which at its two ends merges into the ridge-likeedges that form the outer longitudinal portions of the trough 2E and theinner Y face of the ridge 23 is preferably sloped or frustoconical togive it a funnel-like effect, thus to aid in guiding a downwardlysliding cigarette into engagement with the face 22 and to aid also inresisting any subsequent tilting tendency as above-mentioned.

Thus, a burned cigarette is dependably controlled even though it remainsunattended or neglected and it cannot nd its way to the table top or,for example, to the table cloth, even though such physical changes takeplace in the cigarette as cause it to change its initial position in thetrough I9. Preferably, the trough I9 and also the trough 20 areconcaved, as earlier above-mentioned, for, with a substantially snugintertting of the cigarette with the walls of the concave trough, thefire of the cigarette usually extinguishes itself by the time it reachesthat portion of the cigarette that is initially placed in the trough I9.A subsequent tilting of the cigarette into the trough 20 may thus nd thecigarette extinguished. If it is not extinguished upon tilting into thetrough 2B the relative snug engagement between the cigarette and theconcave walls of the trough 2l) then effects extinguishing of the lire.'But whether or not the fire is extinguished, the movement or movementsof the cigarette are dependably controlled and the cigarette does notescape to the table or other support.

Preferably, the upper face of' the wall part I'I, as viewed in Figure 2,is curved or otherwise made to slope toward its edges so as to make itimpossible intentionally or otherwise to rest a cigarette thereon; thus,a lighted cigarette must be positioned in the receiver portion I@ orappropriately related to the trough of the portion II. The receiverportion I0 may be given any desired depth internally and preferably,particularly where it is of substantial depth, we prefer to provide italso with an internal ledge 2a (see Figure 2) preferably of substantialarea so as to present an upper face large enough to permit tamping orcrushing the fire of a cigarette thereagainst; this ledge 24 wepreferably position at the left-hand end of the receiver portion IE] andpreferably at such a height that it serves as a stop or rest for thefree end of the wall portion Il when the latter is swung into closingposition, as shown in Figure i, and where necessary the ledge 24 mayhave a cutout as at 25 (Figure 2) to let the abutment bearing the parts22, 23 (Figures 2 and 5) by-pass the ledge. The ledge 2li thus limitsthe extent to which the portion II may swing in counter-clockwisedirection and thus we may make certain that the outer faces of the topwall Il and of the end wall I5 are, in this closing relationship, asshown in Figure l, nicely alined with the edges of the walls of thereceiver portion Il). Thus, when in enclosed relationship, the devicemay be made to present a neat and compact appearance.

From the relationship of Figure 1 the device is quickly and easilyrearranged for use, as

shown in Figure 2, by simply swinging the portion II in clockwisedirection about the axis of the pivot pin or pins 2|; in this connectiona manual pressure exerted inwardly of the end wall I6 below the axis ofthe pivot pin 2| sufces to start the swinging movement. With the portionI swung into a position intermediate of the two extremes shown inFigures 1 and 2, say, for example, when swung 90 from either of theseextremes, emptying of the receiver portion I 0 is facilitated since itscontents may simply be slid off of the bottom I2 of the receiver portionI0 and out through the right-hand end of the portion II) which, with theend wall I6 thus in substantially horizontal position, is thus open forthe discharge of ashes, butts, etc.

The construction lends itself to manufacture out of a wide variety ofmaterials. Thus, its various parts may be readily cast, as out of metal,it may be made up of moldable plastics,

ways other than the pivotal connection of Figures l and '2, and anarrangement like that shown in Figures 6 and '7 might be employed.

In the structure of Figures 6 and 7, we prefer to arrange the portionsI0 and I I for detachable interconnection with each other so that thetwo relationships typified in Figures 1 and 2 may be achieved at will.Thus, instead of the pivotal connection provided by the pivot pin orpins 2| of Figures 1 and 2 between the opposed ends of the side wallsI3, I4 and the movable end wall IG, in the structure of Figures 6 and 7,the inner faces of the ends of the side walls I3, I4 are provided withparallel vertically extending grooves 26, 2l, respectively, andpreferably extending throughout the vertical dimension of l these sidewalls, and in the vertical end edges of the end wall I6 we providetongues 28, 29 also preferably extending throughout the verticaldimension of the end wall I6 and enterable, respectively, into thegrooves 25, 21.

Thus, the portion |I may be assembled to the portion I 0 to give theclosed or enclosed relationship shown in Figure 6 by a relative verticalmovement between the two portions in such a way as to enter theabove-mentioned tongues into their respective grooves, thus bringing theend wall into closing relation at the end of the device and thusbringing the Wall portion I'I into closing relation at the top of thedevice, all as is clearly shown in Figure 6. Preferably, also, theleft-hand end of the under face of the top wall portion I'I when in theposition of Figure 6 comes to rest against the ledge 24, as wasdescribed in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

When use is to be made of the device, the portion II in Figure 6 isseparated from the portion I0 by a relative vertical movement betweenthe two, whence the portion II is then turned in clockwise directionthrough 180, thus to invert the end wall I6, whence the two portions Tare reassembled by entering the tongues 28 and 29 into the grooves 26and 21, respectively, again bringing the wall I6 in receiver-closingposition, but with the wall portion I'| now extended laterally from thereceiver portion I0 and exposing upwardly the cigarette retainer orcontrol troughs and parts, all as shown in Figure 7, whence the use andfunctioning of the device may proceed in the manner above described inconnection with Figure 2.

With the arrangement of Figures 6 and 7, we may somewhat enlarge thewall portion I'I, as appears better from Figure 6, so that it mayoverlie the upper end edges of the walls I3, I5 and I4 which may thustake part in supporting the part I'| and coact with the ledge 24 inlimiting the extent of downward movement of the portion II whenassembled to the portion I0, as in Figure 6. f These parts may be soproportioned also as to come to rest with respect to one another at thesame time that the bottom edge of the end wall I6 (Figure 6) comes torest on the bottom wall I2 of the receiver portion IU.

By changing the dimensions and proportions of the top wall II, as abovesuggested, we may also and thereby provide a rabbet-like effect, as at30 (Figure 6) between the right-hand end edge of the wall portion I`|and the upper end edge of the end wall I6, the Vertical dimension of therabbet, as seen in Figure 6, being preferably the same as the thicknessof the bottom wall I2. Accordingly, when the portion II is pivoted fromthe relationship of Figure 6 to the relationship of Figure 7, therabbet-face or edge I6a of end wall I6 comes into engagement with theupper face of the bottom I2 and the rabbetface or edge Ila of the wallportion I1 virtually mates with the end edge I2at of the bottom wall |2.By way of a construction such as this, therefore, we are enabled tobring the under face of the bottom I2 and the under face of the wallI'I, when the parts are in the relationship shown in Figure '7, into thesame plane, and thus the two assembled portions II), II, thoughconnected, may rest latwise upon the same surface, such as a table, orthe like. Thereby, the possibility of subjecting the tongue and grooveconnections between the two portions to undesired strains or stresses isminimized.

The use of the form of Figures 6 and '7 will now be clear in view ofwhat has been set forth above, particularly also in connection withFigures 1 and 2. Cleaning or emptying of the receiver portion I6 mayalso be easily effected for the right-hand end of the receiver portionI0 may be conveniently and quickly opened simply by sliding the portionII upwardly, thus to move the end wall I6 out of closing position(analogous to the substantially horizontal or intermediate position ofthe wall I6 in Figure 2) and permitting the contents of the receiverportion Il] to be dumped or slid out of the thus open ended device.

Thus, it will be seen that therehas been prok vided in this invention anash tray and cigarette-restricting or retaining device in which thevarious objects hereinbefore stated, together with many thoroughlypractical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be seen that thedevice is of simple but durable construction, lends itself tomanufacture out of a wide variety of materials and in such variety ofmaterials without high cost of manufacture. Moreover, it will be seenthat it is of a thoroughly practical character and in practical usedependably provides against the otherwise grave risks accompanying thelaying down of lighted cigarettes. Moreover, the device can readilyserve to extinguish or smother lighted cigarettes or cigarette butts as,for example, by restoring the relationship shown in Figures 1 and 6,thus substantially totally enclosing any lighted cigarettes or cigarettebutts that are placed within the receiver portion lil. Thus, it will beseen that the device is of a thoroughly practical nature.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that ail matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in theaccompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. A smokers appliance comprising two portions, one of which has abottom wall, two opposed side walls and only one end wall, the otherportion having a part that provides an end wall for said irst portionopposed to said rstmentioned end wall and another part extending at anangle thereto and being in extent commensurate with the extent of saidbottom wall, with cigarette-retaining means accommodated in the anglebetween said two parts of said second portion, and means connecting saidtwo portions to permit them to be related to each other selectively inany of several relationships, in two of which relationships said endwall part of said second portion is in position opposed to said end wallof said rst portion and in one of which two relationships saidsecond-mentioned part of said second portion is opposed to the bottomwall of said rst portion and closes the latter with saidcigarette-retaining means projected into said rst portion and in theother of which two relationships said second-mentioned part of saidsecond portion extends away from said first portion to expose saidcigarette-retaining means externally of said rst portion and leaves saidrst portion open at the top, but closed around its sides and ends forthe reception of ashes or the like, said connecting means providing foranother of said several relationships in which said second portion ispositioned relative to said rst portion to bring said end wall of saidsecond portion out of position to completely close off the ends andsides and whereby, as by tilting said iirst portion downwardly about itsonly end wall as an axis and thereby sliding said ashes out from inbetween its side walls, discharge of ashes or the like from said firstportion may be effected.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said connecting meansis in the form of a pivotal connection between said two portions withthe axis of pivoting so positioned as to permit a swing of one portionrelative to the other of substantially 180 to effect transition from oneof said two relationships to the other and to establish saidlast-mentioned relationship for discharge of ashes when one portion isswung relative to the other to an angle of swing intermediate theextremes of said 180.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the connecting meansbetween said two portions comprises means on both of the latter forselectively interfitting said two portions to provide selectively any ofsaid relationship.

4. A construction as claimed in claim l in which the connecting meansbetween said two portions comprises means on said two portionsconnecting them for relative and reversible movement therebetween forthereby selectively positioning said second portion with its end wallportion and other wall portion in complete closing relation to said rstportion or with said end wall part of said second portion opposed to theend wall of saidrst portion and with the remaining parts of said secondportion extending outwardly and away from said first portion and therebyexposing said cigarette-retaining means.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said rst portion andthe end wall part of said second portion have tongueV and groove meansforming the said connecting means between said two portions.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said connecting meanscomprises means pivotally connecting said two portions for pivotingmovement relative to each other about an axis substantially midway ofthe vertical dimension of said end wall part of said second portionwhereby said second portion may be swung relative to the first portionto invert the end wall part of said second portion and to position saidcigarette-retaining means either interiorly or exteriorly of said rstportion, thereby establishing either of said two relationships, saidpivotal connecting means permitting positioning of said second portionrelative to the rst portionl at an intermediate position to establishsaid other relationship for discharge of ashes.

7. A smokers appliance comprising means forming a container for ashes orthe like and having a bottom and retaining side wall means of which sidewall means a part is movable relative to the rest, said movable sidewall part having an extension that extends at an angle thereto and thatis in extent sulcient to close said container means when positionedopposite said bottom, there being cigarette-retaining means in theanglebetween said side wall part and said closure-forming extension andmechanically connected to both, and means forming a connection betweensaid relatively movable parts of the appliance to permit relating saidside wall part to the rest of said side wall means selectively in eitherof two relationships in one of which said retaining means projectslaterally. away from said container means and in the other it projectsinwardly of the latter and said extension is opposite said bottom, therebeing within said container means a rest for the reception thereagainstof a cigarette butt or the like and spaced upwardly from said bottom andthereby positioned to form an internal support for a part of saidextension when the latter is opposed to said bottom.

8. A smokers appliance comprising means forming a container for ashes orthe like and having a bottom and retaining side wall means of which sidewall means a part is movable relative to the rest, said movable sidewall part having an extension that extends at an angle thereto and thatis in extent sulcient to close said container means when positionedopposite said bottom, there being cigarette-retaining means in the anglebetween said side wall part and said closure-forming extension andmechanically connected to both, and means forming a connection betweensaid relatively movable parts of the appliance to permit relating saidside wall part to the rest of said side wall means selectively in eitherof two relationships in one of which said retaining means projectslaterally away from said container means and in the other it projectsinwardly of the latter and said extension is opposite said bottom, saidcigarette-retaining means comprising two connected trough-like portionsof which one extends from said side wall part substantially parallel tosaid extension and the other slopes downwardly therefrom to the latterand together they coact to resist change in the angularity between saidside wall part and its extension.

9. A smokers appliance comprising means forming a container for ashes orthe like and having a bottom about which extends retaining side wallmeans of which side wall means a part is separate from the rest and ispivotally connected to the latter to swing about an axis intermediatethe upper and lower ends of said separate part, said separate parthaving an extension that extends at an angle thereto and that is inextent sufficient to close said container, there being cigaretteretaining means mounted in the angle between said separate side wallpart and said closure-forming extension, whereby, when said extension isin container-closing position, said cigarette retaining means is insideof said container, that portion of said separate side wall part thatextends below said axis of pivoting forming a finger-piece lever armwhich, when pressed inwardly, swings said separate part in a directionto swing said extension out of containerclosing position so that saidcontainer may receive ashes or the like and brings said cigaretteretaining means into exposure for the reception thereon of a cigarette.

GUS SCHARLES.

HARRY J. STORMS.

